Jorma Kaukonen's Online Diary

I remember when this airport was Idylwild. What the heck, that was only forty seven years ago but who's counting. Just a short note to say I'm on my way to Budapest with more to come.

We have been in Budapest now for three days and what a joy this place is. It has been a long time since I have been in a place I have never been in before. No old memories... only new experiences. it doesn't get any better than this.

Sight seeing is exhausting especialloy when you're struggling with a strange language. On the other hand, in a bizarre way, it makes you feel almost 'young again.' Well, almost.

Time for bed. Tomorrow holds a trip up the Danube... and perhaps more.

Onward!

In our time here we have seen many things. The trip to the ancient Synagogue yesterday was powerful beyond words. Later that day we went through the Terror House... the old Secret Police headquarters. We need to study these things and count our blessings.

Today we went to the island between Buda and Pest and... well many other things. I love this country. It is hospitable, the people are wonderful and the food is great.

Life is good. More tomorrow.

Zach and I left Budapest bright and early, boarded a Malev plane and flew to Rome then driving up here to Prato. Tomorrow is the Pistoia Blues Festival and the 'work' part of this trip begins. All the eagles have gathered and we are ready to get some rest and make some music.

Stop me before I eat more.

The Pistoia Blues Festival is always a pleasure to play. We haven't done it for a while so it was quite an honor to be included along with such people as Johnny Winter and Dickie Betts. It was our first trio date for some time, but we fell quite comfortably back into it. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 24, 2008
The Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
The Pistoia Blues Festival
Pistoia, Italia
Friday, July 11, 2008

1. That’ll Never Happen No More
2. Come Back Baby
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. How Long Blues
5. I Know You Rider
6. Late Breaking News
7. Hesitation Blues
8. I Am The Light Of This World
9. Just Because

Tomorrow is an early bus call so it's off to bed for the boys for now.

Tonight's show at the Villa Suardi was such a pleasure. Clouds hung over us like impending doom but the rain held off until this last song of a two plus hour set, the list of which follows:

Hot Tuna 24, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Villa Suardi
Trescore Balneario
Saturday, July 12, 2008

First Set:
1. Search My Heart
2. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
3. More Than My Old Guitar
4. How Long Blues
5. Sea Child
6. Embryonic Journey
7. There’s A Table Sitting In Heaven
8. Barbeque King
9. I Know You Rider
10. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
11. Parchman Farm
12. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
13. Uncle Sam Blues
14. Hesitation Blues
15. Good Shepherd
16. 9 Pound Hammer
17. Encore: That’ll Never Happen No More

Tomorrow is a very early call to drive to Roma so it's to be for me, Zach and the boys. More anon...

Onward

A seven plus hour drive here and a great show here in the Roma general area. Once again, the rain held off until we were done. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 26, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Villa Ada
Laghetto di Villa Ada in Roma
Via di Ponte Salario
Sunday, July 13, 2008

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
3. Serpent Of Dreams
4. How Long Blues
5. More Than My Old Guitar
6. Sea Child
7. Trial By Fire
8. Come Back Baby
9. Hesitation Blues
10. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
11. I Know You Rider
12. Late Breaking News
13. 99 Year Blues
14. San Francisco Baby Blues
15. Encore: Genesis
16. Encore II: Uncle Sam Blues

Tomorrow we drive to Imola so it's immediately to bed. What a time!

A long drive today from Roma through some of the most beautiful country imagineable. Every inch of every field cultivated with som useable crop. The swirl patterns of cultivation make one easily see why painters through the ages loved to paint here.

We were free this evening to do what we wanted and tomorrow I hope to find enough time to do some laundry. Ah, laundry... big moments in European travel. For now however, bed will just have to do.

Onward...

Lsst night's show here in Imola was in the ancient castle that is in the center of old town. Talk about natural reverb. It was an absolutely beautiful night... not even the threat of rain this time. Claudia Macori opened the show for us and did a beautiful job. The evening was still lovely as we took the stage for our almost two hour set, the list of which follows:

Hot Tuna 27, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
Rocca Sforzesca
Piazzale Giovanni dale Bande Nere
Imola, Italia
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

1. Search My Heart
2. Hesitation Blues
3. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
4. More Than My Old Guitar
5. Parchman Farm
6. Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning
7. Come Back Baby
8. Late Breaking News
9. Heart Temporary
10. I See The Light
11. Fur Peace Rag
12. I Know You Rider
13. Embryonic Journey
14. Sea Child
15. 99 Year Blues
16. Volare
17. Just Because
18. Encore: Embryonic Journey

We are off to Asti in an hour or so and internet connections notwithstanding, more will surely follow.

Onward!

The town of Asti is so charming. Our little show tonight was in front of an ancient cathedral. We broke sound check for Mass. The weather was flawless and the pre-show dinner was, well, incomparable. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 28, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady
& Barry Mitterhoff
AstiMusica
Piazza della Cattedrale
Asti, Italia
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

1. Blue Railroad Train
2. Serpent Of Dreams
3. How Long Blues
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Heart Temporary
6. Come Back Baby
7. Trial By Fire
8. Sea Child
9. San Francisco Bay Blues
10. Late Breaking News
11. Good Shepherd
12. 9 Pound Hammer
13. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Tomorrow we fly to Cosenza and in the morning before we hit the airport, we shall do some souvenir shopping. It is already late so it's to bed for us right now.

Yesterday was a 'day off,' which means that we spent all day traveling. We got in after 1900 and indeed we found ourselves in the tropics. Southern Italy is a different world altogether. It was warm, but not too warm and the humidity was almost nonexistant. As is the wont in this part of the world, dinner did not start until after 2100 and as we started to walk back to the hotel afterwards, the walking streets were still filled with people unjoying the summer night air.

Shops were beginning to close one by one as we walked under the full moon. It was a pleasure to find that one of the last ones open was a gelato shop. What a great way to close the day.

Today, Zach and I walked around and did some exploring and then after lunch I came back to the room to string my guitar and work on the set list for this evening. The boys headed up to the old Norman Castle on the hill and I expect them back any moment.

The shops on the street below me are just beginning to open up after the afternoon siesta and life is returning to the city. I think I'll go out and find the rest of the gang.

Onward...

Que bella luna! As we started our set in the ancient town aquare last night, the moon smiled down on us through some spectular cloud formations. Italy is such a beautiful country and Cosenza and it's surroundings are no exception. As is the custom here, we ate late and didn't start the show until almost 2245. There were some minor technical problems, but you know... no problem. We had a great night. Here is our set list:

Hot Tuna 29, 2008
The Acoustic Trio
Piazza XV Marzo
Cosenza, Italia
Friday, July 18, 2008

1. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
2. I See The Light
3. How Long Blues
4. I’ll Let You Know Before I Leave
5. Hesitation Blues
6. Genesis
7. I Know You Rider
8. Come Back Baby
9. Late Breaking News
10. Embryonic Journey
11. Let Us Get Together Right Down Here
12. Good Shepherd
13. More Than My Old Guitar
14. I Am The Light Of This World
15. Just Because
16. Encore: Water Song

It's always fun to be on the road with my pals, but having my son Zach with me here on this trip made it even more special. Later this morning we fly up to Roma and tomorrow we head for home. It will be great to be home again, but there is always that hint of sadness that one feels leaving a place that one really likes. We'll be back for sure! Italy has embrace me and my music for more that a quarter of a century. Even though Lord knows I can't speak Italian, I sure feel at home here. Still and all, Hillside Farm and the girls are waiting and another page is ready to be turned. Onward.

Arrivederci!

Well I'm home from a fantastic couple of weeks in Europe... Hungary, and Italy. More about this over the next couple of days.

Monday morning we got an email from Happy Traum telling us of the death of his brother Artie on Sunday. That was such sad news. Artie and I had not seen each other for many years but I remember as a fine artist and a great gentleman. If you go to Artie's website at www.artietraum.com. you will read many beautiful things about the man. My heart goes out to his family. The river of time cannot be diminished by a single drop without the loss being felt throughout the universt.

Fair wind and following seas Artie!

The writings about the European trip have been pu on the back burner while I prepare for my recording session up there in Woodstock. The songs are starting to call into place and with a little luck and some more work, I might actually be ready when the sessions star on Monday.

It is a beautiful day here in the county although the humidity is up from yesterday and let's face it... this is Southeast Ohio. All things considered, life sparkles and I can hardly wait for the next move.

Back to the songbook and indeed... onward.

Myron and I drove up yesterday from Meigs County and except for some construction delays on I-81, had a darn good trip. We're just getting ready to collect Barry Mitterhoff and head on over to the studio where Larry Campbell should be waiting for us.

As always, recording a project is exciting to say the least. I shall fill in the blanks later this evening.

Here I am back in Upstate New York after all these year recording my new project with Barry Mitterhoff with Larry Campbell playing as well as producing. If I were having any more fun, you would have to bail me out of jail. We got four songs done today as well as one from yesterday which wasn't bad considering that yesterday was the first day.

It is a beautiful time of year here in the Woodstock area. Warm and pleasant during the day and pleasantly cool at night. The night sky was filled with stars on the way back to the hotel a few minutes ago and you could see Jupiter with your bare eye.

Time for a little rest so i can get an early start tomorrow.

Yesterday we had Levon Helm on the session for three songs. The man is simply amazing... he sits down behind his kit, starts playing and before you know it, the song is done. We have two more days here and we hope to be finished by tomorrow evening. Once again, there has been some serious pickin' done on this project. I always get excited when a project comes my way and this one is no exception.

A little rain started falling last night but Upstate New York has been treating us will with lovely days and cool nights. Well, got some more writing to do. More anon..